This handsome garden perennial is native to Asia Minor, Greece, and Turkey. Although it was possibly the tall, reddish-flowered Hellebore described by Philip Miller in his Gardeners Dictionary of 1754, the Lenten Rose was not commonly cultivated until the early 19th century. Hellebore is an ancient term for a plant supposed to cure insanity. Like Christmas Rose (H. niger), Lenten Rose is an extremely long-lived plant when well situated.

A hardy, late-winter to early-spring flowering perennial, Lenten Rose displaysgreenish-white flowers marked with red or dark purple on 12 to 18-inch stalks above previous season's foliage.  Its handsome, leathery leaves form a large mound in the garden up to 2-feet across.  It prefers light shade and limestone-rich garden loam and can be divided in fall.

Visit Monticello’s Online Shop to check for seeds or plants of Lenten Rose.

Typical Blooming Dates: February - June
Growth Type: Perennial
Blossom color(s): Yellowish white
Hardiness Zones: 4 - 9
Location at Monticello: East Front
Planting Conditions: Shade